Managing Spacecraft Waste Using the Heat Melt Compactor (HMC)

Waste is a universal problem, on Earth, in spacecraft, and for any closed ecological system. Waste must be processed and is often recycled to recover resources. Many different approaches and technologies are used. Spacecraft waste is derived from the spacecraft logistics supplies, the materials provided for use by the crew. The composition of spacecraft logistics and the resulting waste depend on the mission and its duration and use of recycling. Spacecraft waste is a more serious problem on long duration missions because of the large logistics supplies consumed and the difficulty of storing or disposing of waste. The quantity and composition of waste can vary and may require flexible management. Most missions will produce about two kilograms per crewmember per day of trash, consisting of food waste, plastic, paper, packaging, hygiene wipes and many other supplies used and discarded by the crew. The waste is bulky, messy and difficult to store since the wet waste can decompose and produce odors and an accumulation of pathogenic bacteria. The Heat Melt Compactor (HMC) compresses and heats waste and, if it contains the usual large portion of plastic, bonds the compressed waste into a solid plastic encapsulated block. This allows the sterilized spacecraft waste to be easily handled, stored, and disposed of. The HMC can recover water from the waste and even from the brine produced by water processing. The compressed waste blocks can be used for radiation protection. The HMC is an effective and adaptable waste processing technology that will be useful on any long duration human space mission.